You are here: Home / Politics / Being in government made me poor —Igbinedion

Being in government made me poor —Igbinedion

May 12, 2014 : John Alechenu

Chief Lucky Igbinedion

In his first media interview after leaving office as governor of Edo State in 2007, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, speaks about his time in office, life outside power and his travails with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. JOHN ALECHENU was there.

How is life outside power?

As it was before power. You are back to the basics, you are back to yourself. Some people will abandon you for sure. You don’t really people until you give them a position of authority or you entrust them with wealth, or entrust them with power. We’ve had a lot of betrayals; we’ve had a lot of turn coats. But then, your friends are still your friends; the ones that actually grew up with you. It’s actually better when you look back you see some of the ones you actually grew up with to say yes, I am still friends with so, so and so. Like I always tell people, that first day of inauguration you have all this brilliant photographs, albums, keep them so that towards the end of your first term, go back to that album, see how many of them are still around you. When you win a second term, take more pictures of the inauguration, I am not talking about going to commission projects or something like that. At the end of that tenure, go back, see who was with you for the whole of those eight years and ask yourself why or why not. Some of the blame will be on you, some will be on others because there is no way you can satisfy everybody or meet everybody’s expectations.

What have you missed outside power?

Nothing! Quite honestly.

Looking back, are there things you would have done differently?

I am so confident of what I did as governor of Edo State that if I were to go back I would make the same mistake all over again. Whatever I did was with the greatest of good intentions for the betterment of my people to the best of my ability. I have no regrets.

In terms of performance, I am glad the history is beginning to reveal itself. I performed creditably well but the perception and expectations are two different things. In terms of performance, I stand to be challenged. My performance surpassed all other governors before me. But a lot of people tend to forget where the state was before I came on board. This was a state that was run by the military for 15 years and this was a state that was not able to pay civil servants, was not able to pay pensioners, parastatals were condemned to self-sustenance policy, colleges of education were no longer what it ought to be, the university was now producing criminals, everything was comatose. People don’t look back to say this was a man that came and paid 24 months of a backlog of salaries, institutions that were dead were being revived. They tend to forget easily because people are looking for immediate gratification. I revived the civil service.

How did you cope with godfathers?

My hands were never tied. If anything, godfathers helped me. Helped me in a sense- this is the first time I am saying this. I don’t really believe in the word godfatherism because we are not criminals, we are not in the mafia, I don’t belong to any cultish society but for the first time, two people that I owe a lot of gratitude to in Edo State that made my tenure successful, was my father (Chief Gabriel Igbenedion) and (Chief Tony) Anenih. Because in the darkest of days, when the state was broke, we could not pay salaries, we could not do anything. I ran to the two of them and they would borrow the state money. They would loan the state money, it is documented, and it is there. When banks would not even touch us, I would go to them and say listen- because my father felt, and you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do. When pensioners would go to him crying or lie in front of Government House a couple of times I went to Chief Anenih. Chief Anenih gave money just to make sure the government ran smoothly.

Did you pay back this money?

Yes. Much, much later.

What about the Internally Generated Revenue?

It was too small. I just told you, we owed a backlog of salaries and pension.

Why did you not pursue an aggressive improvement of the state’s IGR?

First and foremost, if you know Benin well, you know Benin was a completely civil service state capital back in 1999. In 1999, apart from two or three old generation banks, there were no banks there. You could stand at Ring Road and see new Benin market, you would see Oliha market, that is how bare and desolate the place was. But when I came, we started creating a friendly environment for business to thrive. We gave tax incentives just to encourage people. What they are enjoying today was the foundation that I laid down, all this IGR you have today. If I had not created a conducive atmosphere, a conducive environment for businesses to say yes, Edo State is a safe place to go and invest, nobody will go there.

What about your case with the EFCC?

They are doing their job. They challenge you, you answer their questions. I have nothing to fear. I was outside the country, when they said I was declared wanted, I came back. So, if I was afraid, I would keep on running, but I was confident that I had nothing to fear. In fact, if anything, it is the state that owes me money. For me to loot, there must be something for you to loot. Edo State had no money to loot.

What about the money you returned?

I did not return money. They found N3.5m in my account. Let me explain. When I left office in 2007, (Olusegun) Obasanjo was using the EFCC to harass people. He was saying governors are thieves, this one is a thief, that one is a thief. Meanwhile, the greater allocation from the Federation Account comes to the centre, all the 36 states will take about 47 percent, he takes fifty something, all his ministers are not thieves, he himself is not a thief, and every other person is a thief. After my tenure, I said to Ribadu, I am going outside the country here is my telephone number, I am roaming. If you need to reach me, you can call me. Is it Ok if I go? He said yes, you can go, we have nothing on you. When I went and started trying to unwind –because that day that I left office was as if a ten tonner was removed from my head. I was out there in America, all of a sudden, my lawyer called me and said you have been declared wanted. I said declared wanted for what? You will not invite somebody; you will not write to the person, you will not even phone him why will you just declare somebody wanted without any justification. I said Okay, send me the documents, he did and I was shocked. I asked my lawyer to write to them to tell them that I am not running from my country to start with; neither am I running from the law because I have no reason to run from the law. I gave them the date and the airline (of return) and on that date, I arrived here in Abuja, the following Monday morning, I went to the EFCC office by myself, nobody arrested me. They said, ‘we need you in Lagos.’ I got there, I waited after a while they came and started interviewing me, asking me all kinds of questions. In all of these, there is nowhere they said I inflated contracts or took the money to go and chop or we found money in your domiciliary account. Some of their officers now came and said ‘listen sir, this thing is political, we don’t really have anything on you, we are just doing our job because of orders that be.’ They brought 150 something charges, we argued and argued. They said let your lawyer and our lawyer go and sit down and craft something to save our face and save yours. I wanted to sweep the politics behind me and face my business which is my core area of calling. I told them to leave me alone. I don’t have money in my account, you have checked, police in London have checked, you have checked America; American Police have checked nothing, if you have, go and seize it. They went round and round and round after a while, they came to the Code of Conduct, they said I failed to disclose an amount in my account of N3.3m not billion that’s what I was charged and fined for. To forfeit N3.3m, you can go to court and check, they dropped all the 150 charges. I would have been much richer outside of government. Being in government; made me poorer, in terms of opportunity cost.

Copyright PUNCH.All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Something is wrong in this era. While all the chronic thieves are now getting mouth to talk. It seems this era is good for them.

http://batman-news.com PlainTruth

Thats Jona for you.

12to34

He would be given an appointment after all we are told that corruption is not our problem

Kiss_My_Ass

Liar

I-Go-Laff- O

Join the discussion…Even Lucky has the temerity and audercity to boastfull say he created the enviroment for a triving Edo State….a rogue and criminal per excellence….i dey laugh…because this interview is nothing but an insult in the collective intellegence of the Edo people who knew how himself and co-travellers raped the state treasury while he was the state gov….i can assured him that he will be stoned if he dare walk the street of Benin in broad day light…shameless rogue and beast of no gender…an oloriburuku of the highest rank…

akara

“two people that I owe a lot of gratitude to in Edo State that made my
tenure successful, was my father (Chief Gabriel Igbenedion) and (Chief
Tony) Anenih. Because in the darkest of days, when the state was broke,
we could not pay salaries, we could not do anything. I ran to the two of
them and they would borrow the state money. They would loan the state
money, it is documented, and it is there. When banks would not even
touch us, I would go to them and say listen- because my father felt, and
you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do. When pensioners would go to him
crying or lie in front of Government House a couple of times I went to
Chief Anenih. Chief Anenih gave money just to make sure the government
ran smoothly.”

He’s even self-deceited enough to claim that his father and tony Anenih loaned Edo state money during his tenure. Just imagine!! Edo state an oil-producing state!! What a deluded individual..

I-Go-Laff- O

Join the discussion…he is a rogue and a beast of no gander….a big big OLORIBURUKU..BRODYFOOL…

http://batman-news.com PlainTruth

Is it not an irony that his father and Anenih were richer than the state? Naija for show!

farooq

lol!!!!

mocking edo state……………………………

bought properties in the u.s.,while in government including the one he presently lives in atlanta,a well gated estate………………….

convicted and asked to pay “fine” by the nigerian judiciary,the greatest mocker of the nigerian ship……………………lost $20 million to venezuelan conmen (i believe,edo state’s money)…………

Log unto [goo][.][gl][/VYRpH9] and discover d real things the wise are doing to make emergency cash. You will be shocked at your ignorance for what you have bn missing. These are offers you should not miss. Make sure you remove all the brackets

Abiodun Olayinka

Government made you poorer even with all the billions you stole. God bless Nigeria.

Sunny Oke.

Shame on Bini people look at the public disgrace their anointed son has brought on himself and his people, i hope they now see why other districts are apprehensive of allowing another Bini man govern the state.Pastor Ize Iyamu and the likes of Uzamere and co, this is the son of a Bini high chief, an embarrassment to the human race, dead body no dey shame.

Fatima

It was by divine providence that I was not swept off by the flood on Uselu Lagos road precisely by Tomline some years ago in Lucky’s Edo State because he failed to fix drains on that heavily used road. I’m galled that Punch could even offer a full paged interview to a looter like him, it is not his fault, it is the govt of the day, after all, the likes of Bode George and Alams are now elder statesmen under Jonathan govt, the morals of the society is tainted and the interview is an insult on our collective intelligence

Corridors Eden

Is it not amazing that ours is a country lacking in accountability and moral rectitude? This guy awarded a contract for hundreds of millions of naira for the impossible task if dredging the low-lying Ikpoba River and succeeded in fleecing the state through his brother-Bright Igbinedion -who got the contract and got paid for no job done! This crook is just the ilk of the other thieving elites strewn across Nigeria. Your cup go soon full!

echeke

Lucky Igbinedion you have granted your arrengee interview and you think God is not listening? God knows the heart of all men, you can fool some men and NEVER God, am very sure that it is not over till it is over, if you think you are doing image laundry then you must have something else coming your way, because as for JAIL, you must go to jail, it will only take time, just like your main man is enjoying the cold in Britain, who ever thought Ibori the sheik will ever be detained talk less of prison term, so do not think it is over, No brother you shall land in that gulag very soonest.
God Bless My Nigeria

Oh! okay, Lucky did not steal. So, who did. I suspect the Oba of Benin.

12to34

Everyone blames President Jonathan , tell why should a newspaper publish this rubbish . It could as a result of brown envelope. It thought Punch no dey chop bribe

wonderboi

Each and every times I see corrupt & criminal- minded, failure who has never done anything successfully in their entire life but because in Nigeria anything goes without justice . I feel so sorry for the future of this country. here is another one (Lucky- Igbenedion ) he squandered the wealth of his state yet he has the audacity to insult the people of his state, by saying no money in Edo, a state that produces oil for that matter . he made sheer size of people of Edo state downwardly mobile. one thing I have noticed is that sanctimonious politicians such as Bode George, Fayose ,Omisore ,,Gbenga Daniel, Alameyisia and more now have say because of our sitting duck , puppet president has some how institutionalised corruption

Democracy

now i know that every benin person is a criminal.

Des Ade

He is saying the truth. He is POOR BECAUSE THE WHOLE STOLEN MONEY COULDN’T BE KEPT IN HIS NAME . THEY ARE HIDDEN ALL OVER THE PLACES…. POOR LUCKY….LET HIM SAY THAT TO HIS CRONIES HAHA……

Richy Amechi Fidel

I think the EFCC should invite Tony Anenih and Chief Gabriel Igbenedion to explain on the allegation of loaning a state money, and if this is real then the thieves should explain to Nigerians how they made their money.

Spokesperson for the Senate Unity Forum, Senator Kabir Marafa, saying his colleagues passed a vote of confidence in Dr. Bukola Saraki’s senate leadership in order to spite President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress leadership.